I began writing these articles to supplement the textbook for my public relations class. They filled gaps, clarified concepts, explained how textbook theories applied to current events, and presented alternate views. I'm retired now, but I continue to add readings and make them available free of charge.

• You may read, quote from, download, and print one copy for your personal use.
• But, these readings are copyrighted, so you may not legally or ethically re-post them online or make and distribute multiple copies without my permission.

I will, however, be happy to give you permission to make and distribute copies for teaching purposes. Just send me an email that ...

• tells me where and how you want to use use them and promise that
• you will include an acknowledgement of my authorship on all copies
• and won't charge anyone for the copies you distribute.
   

-- Michael Turney, Ph.D., ABC      
Professor Emeritus of Communication &        
IABC Accredited Business Communicator        
turney@nku.edu        

Click on a topic or scroll down to browse the complete list.

 
Crisis communication

Origin and need for public relations

 
Current articles (6/6/2022) on the Practicing Public Relations home page:

 
Perspective on public relations:
Its origin and social need

• Managing personal and organizational encounters
• Perceptions can be direct or mediated.

TV mediates viewers' perceptions.

• Images can be natural or constructed perceptions.
• Are special events inherently deceptive?

 
 
Evolution of public relations:
A century of maturing as a profession

• The three phases of public relations development
• Publicity phase of public relations

"I don't care what the newspapers say about me ..."

• Explanatory phase of public relations

Ivy Lee was ahead of his contemporaries

• Mutual satisfaction phase of public relations

Asymmetric v. symmetric public relations

• Social movements and public relations development
• Is the practice of public relations really a science?
• Calls to re-invent public relations are not new

 
 
Key people in the history of public relations

• Amos Kendall wasn't a presidential press secretary.
• Arthur Page is often called the "father of Corporate Public Relations"
• Edison & Westinghouse's "current war" was fueled by public relations.
• Edward Bernays is called the "father of public relations."
• Ivy Lee was ahead of his time.
• P.T. Barnum was a key player in the development of public relations.
   
  
  • He wanted newspapers to spell his name right.

 
 
Ethics in public relations:
Professional standards for practitioners

• Public Relations Codes of Ethics (portal page)
• Journalism ethics do not apply to public relations
• Ethics became confusing as public relations evolved
• Are special events inherently deceptive?

 
 
Public relations planning:
Effective strategies are planned, not ad hoc

• Strategic public relations planning (portal page)
• Public relations planning is essential
• Quick and dirty planning may suffice
• KFD as the basis of a PR plan
• Developing a public relations plan

Strategic planning for First Prize Glass:
(First steps for a hypothetical company)

• Strategic planning steps

Strategic planning for public relations
(pdf how-to tip sheet)

• Tactical planning steps

Tactical planning for public relations
(pdf how-to tip sheet)

 
 
Media relations:
Use mass media to reach your key publics

• Advertising and publicity
• Working with the media

Spotting PR efforts in the news

"No comment" is never appropriate

• Issuing media advisories and alerts

Media alerts and advisories
(pdf how-to tip sheet)

• Visit, network and schmooze with media people
• Issuing news releases and other media information

News releases
(pdf how-to tip sheet)

• Host appropriate news conferences and media events
• Keeping pace with changing practices in journalism

 
What is public relations?:
Concepts of its role and functions

• Underlying concepts of public relations
• Interpersonal relations & public relations
• Duties and responsibilities of PR practitioners.
• Assorted Definitions of Public Relations (pdf handout)
• Still seeking a definition after all these years
• The changing names of public relations
• Don't denigrate public relations by what you call it
• What do you call yourself, PR practitioner?
• Acronyms for the public relations process

 
 
Public relations training:
Preparing to practice public relations

• Course syllabus for an introduction to public relations
• Preparation and education for public relations
• Be as versatile as a Swiss Army knife
• Duties and responsibilities of PR practitioners.
• Intro PR textbooks reflect different perspectives
• Must-read books for public relations practitioners

 
 
Writing for public relations

• Focus on the audience, not the words

 
 
Public relations and marketing:
Using similar tools for different ends

• Public relations and marketing were initially distinct
• Boundaries blurred, then functions blended
• On the way to Integrated Marketing Communication?
• Advertising and publicity

 
 
Crisis communication:
Managing public relations in an emergency

• Crisis communication (portal page)
• Crisis communication is The Olympics of public relations
• Performing public relations during a crisis
• "No comment" is never an appropriate response.
• Planning for a crisis

Six Steps to a Rudimentary Crisis Plan
(pdf tip sheet)

• Stay well-informed to be ready when a crisis hits
• Coping when a crisis hits

Performing public relations during a crisis
(pdf how-to tip sheet)

• Covid-19 has taken notions of "crisis response" to a whole new level.
• Don't become a crisis communication hypochondriac
• Executions: a public relations crisis for electricity
  (explores the rivalry between Edison and Westinghouse)

 
 
Government public relations:
Critical concerns and limitations in the US

• Government public relations

Characteristics of government employment

• Inappropriate public relations activity by the Pentagon
• The Ballad of Amos Kendall
  (He wasn't the "first presidential press secretary")

 
 
Recent trends and changing practices:
Public relations continues to adapt

• Covid-19 has taken notions of "crisis response" to a whole new level.
• Calls to scrap PR aren't new
• Changing names of public relations
• Content curation - a new role or merely a buzzword?
• Employee relations is relatively new in public relations
• Gamification isn't limited to public relations
• Integrated Marketing Communication
• Keeping pace with changes in journalism